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Monday, 23 December 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-04-16Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] FM spokesman 'name issue'A Greek foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday again fielded a bevy of press questions regarding the outstanding FYROM 'name issue', as the focus has again shifted back to diplomatic efforts by a United Nations mediator to achieve a compromise between Athens and Skopje ahead of pending EU and NATO summits this year."Greece, both before and after Bucharest (the NATO summit), emphasised that it remains actively involved in the UN negotiating process. First off, it's very positive that this negotiating process is continuing with the upcoming visits to Athens and Skopje by the UN General Secretary's special envoy, Matthew Nimetz," spokesman George Koumoutsakos said, adding: "At the same time, it is obvious that the fact the neighbouring country (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) is now in a pre-election period is also being taken into serious consideration." Moreover, asked by reporters over various press reports regarding "name proposals", Koumoutsakos merely reiterated the Greek foreign ministry's standing position of engaging in speculation on the sensitive topic, stressing that Greece has already and repeatedly outlined the fundamental aspects that any proposal must meet in order to be considered a basis for negotiation. Asked whether Athens considers the FYROM representative in UN talks, Amb. Nikola Dimitrov, as a credible negotiator, given his recent eye-brow-raising statements, Koumoutsakos said that, at this stage, discussions will take place within the framework of the UN mediator's mandate, meaning separate contacts in Skopje and Athens. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |